Bridgework Requires Additional Oral Hygiene Focus

Posted May 19, 2017.

Bridgework installed by the dentists at ODonnell Family Dentistry’s Lexington, Kentucky clinic was created from durable dental-grade materials that completely resist the presence of bacterial tooth decay. Yet you should not let this lull you into a sense of security over the long-term life of this type of dental work. Poor oral hygiene habits and complications from gum disease can still threaten the long-term integrity of the bridge.

Your daily oral hygiene regimen is critical for maintaining the health of the abutments that anchor your bridge in place. If you’re having trouble cleaning in-and-around your bridge you might want to consider using some special oral hygiene tools, like interdental brushes, a water flosser or a floss threader.

An interdental brush is basically miniature toothbrushes with a small tapered head to let you pay special attention to hard to reach areas. A floss threader is a simple loop-shaped too, loaded with waxed dental floss can help you floss around wires and other hardware.

If you have stray food material getting trapped near the gum line or other areas around your bridge, you might want to try using an oral irrigator. These are designed to create a focused stream of water that can help loosen and wash away food particles from hard to reach places. Just keep in mind that this is not a viable alternative to flossing.

If you have further questions about how to clean and maintain your new bridge, you can always call 859-269-4613 to speak to a member of the staff at ODonnell Family Dentistry’s Lexington, Kentucky clinic.